SIMIC

THE UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has taken steps to raise awareness of underwater ship noise through non-mandatory guidelines, reports Athens' Safety4Sea.

These guidelines are designed to monitor the impact of the noise from shipping and evaluate the effectiveness of various mitigation strategies.



During the 10th session of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) held from January 22nd to 26th at the IMO headquarters in London, noise emerged as a prominent topic demanding immediate action due to its adverse effects on marine ecosystems and the environment.



The IMO's recent updates to its guidelines reflect a growing acknowledgment of the challenges posed by underwater noise pollution from ships, particularly commercial vessels.



These revised guidelines, applicable to all ships, cover aspects ranging from design and construction to operation and modifications.



Emphasizing the complexity of ship design and the diversity of approaches to noise reduction, the guidelines advocate for early-stage noise management in ship planning and recommend implementing management plans for existing vessels where feasible.